"True, the Social Security Bureau can be quite complex at times and might not suit you. Everyone has their own path, and that can't be forced." Older Cousin nodded understandingly, thought for a moment, and then directly asked, "If it's okay, could you tell me—what's your relationship with Teacher Luo?"
"Teacher Luo?"
Huai Shi was startled. "Who's that?"
"You don't know them?" Older Cousin frowned in confusion. "Then where did you learn the Yu Step?"
"...Wait a minute!"
Finally, Huai Shi realized what he was talking about and was somewhat incredulous. "The Teacher Luo you're talking about, wouldn't happen to be Luo Xian, would it?"
Older Cousin looked as if he'd seen a ghost, stunned for a long moment. Then, as if understanding something, he couldn't help but burst out laughing. "No, no, no, you're mistaken. Xiao Xian is Teacher Luo's daughter.
Ha ha ha, I see now. I think I can guess what happened. No wonder she came to me asking a bunch of questions about Xinhai the other day after returning from the Chef Demon competition... Did you two meet?"
"It's a long story," Huai Shi shook his head and sighed.
"Were you challenged?"
"Yeah, I almost messed up." Huai Shi smiled bitterly. "I thought I was already impressive enough, but it turns out I was still a frog in a well... I'm truly sorry for learning your technique without permission. I'll visit another day to explain."
"No, it's fine. If Teacher Luo knew, she might actually be quite pleased," Older Cousin said nonchalantly, waving it off. "To learn the Yu Step, even an incomplete version, just by dueling Xiao Xian—that shows remarkable talent... To be honest, I've been considering how to win you over from the Astronomical Society.
Speaking of which, what do you think of our Sister Mo San?" he continued, bending down with his elbow propped on his knee and wearing a mischievous smile. "You see, if you're looking for a stricter superior, our Social Security Bureau has those too, you know."
"It's not the same thing, thank you!"
Huai Shi was at his wit's end. Why is everyone in your Social Security Bureau so keen on poaching people?
After cracking a joke, Older Cousin stood up, patted Huai Shi's shoulder, and said, "Get some rest now. I won't bother you any longer. Someone will be here soon to take you back.
Good luck in the rookie contest, young man. I'm rooting for you."
Before leaving, he even made a 'keep fighting' gesture.
Hey, big brother, are you really the bureau chief?
...However, Huai Shi could now understand even more why he was called Older Cousin. He had absolutely no airs and was so young; there was no sense of distance with him at all!
.
.
"What a shock, why is it you?"
Ten minutes later, Huai Shi saw Li Jian Amber's face, wearing an expression of utter despair.
Through the car window.
The recklessly driven sports car hurtled towards him, braking sharply at the last second to stop right in front of him. Li Jian Amber leaned out, calling hastily, "There's no time to explain, get in the car!"
"...Have you been thinking about that line for a long time?"
"I already said there's no time, hurry up and get in!"
Li Jian Amber was alarmingly frantic. She reached out, dragged Huai Shi in through the window, and slammed her foot on the accelerator, sending the car roaring off.
With half his body dangling outside and the other half sprawled over Miss Amber, Huai Shi struggled awkwardly. After finally climbing into the passenger seat and buckling his seatbelt, he looked back, panting. "Are all Yingzhou people as enthusiastically unrestrained as you?"
"Are all Dongxia people as fond of snarky comments as you?!"
In the midst of the wild drive, Li Jian Amber turned to shoot back, her gaze so sharp it seemed like it could ignite sparks. "How can you still be joking around at a time like this?"
"In American action movies, they always crack a joke at times like these to lighten the mood; otherwise, the atmosphere gets too heavy," Huai Shi adjusted his seat, asking nonchalantly, "What's happened?"
"The Astronomical Society Jinling Branch was attacked by Green Day."
"Crap!" Huai Shi nearly jumped through the car roof. "Then what are we waiting for, let's hurry!"
"So now you're panicking?" Li Jian Amber snorted.
"No joke! My Inspector is still there. If anything happens to her, what about my salary this month!" Huai Shi immediately pulled out his Axe Short Knife, wishing he could charge all the way from Confucius Temple to Old Street right now. "Those Green Day bastards have really crossed the line!"
"...But they were quickly suppressed," Li Jian Amber glanced at Huai Shi. "If the sky falls, taller people will hold it up. It's not your turn to play the hero on a rescue mission, so relax."
Just as Huai Shi breathed a sigh of relief, he heard the teenage girl in the driver's seat continue, "But, the attack caused an explosion..."
Instantly tense.
Huai Shi's eyes widened.
"Thankfully, there were no casualties."
As if she had a habit of pausing dramatically mid-sentence, Li Jian Amber, seeing Huai Shi's relief, quickly added, "However, during the chaos, a member of the Astronomical Society was taken hostage..."
Huai Shi felt completely deflated. "I'm begging you, can you please just tell me everything at once?" he pleaded.
"Don't worry, the kidnapper was shot dead on the spot by your Inspector. Anyway, the deputy director who was taken hostage was apparently quite traumatized," Li Jian Amber chuckled maliciously. "After all, he was nearly shot in the head by one of his own people. That's bound to leave a pretty big psychological scar, don't you think?"
"So, what does any of this have to do with me?" Huai Shi was resigned. "You're not here to pin the blame on me, are you?"
"You're overthinking it," Li Jian Amber slammed on the gas, the car speeding up. "After their failed attack, Green Day retreated, but they left something behind at the scene..."
She paused for a moment, looking deeply at Huai Shi.
"—It was addressed to you by name."
Feng Ping, that bastard, is trying to screw me over!
Huai Shi was instantly on alert.